Dr Cliona Murphy
Clinical Director, HSE National Women and Infants Health Programme
Six regional fertility hubs have been established by the HSE. These hubs can now offer assisted human reproduction (AHR).
A GP can refer a couple to a regional fertility hub if they have been trying to conceive for a year (six months if a woman is aged over 35) or if there is a known health problem that affects fertility.
Access to assisted human reproduction
At the hub, patients can expect to receive a structured fertility review and examination. Clinical assessments are then made by the specialist public fertility teams, and the next appropriate steps are decided.
These steps may include medical or surgical treatments and management at hub level. Some couples will need onward referral to other specialities. For a certain cohort of patients, advanced fertility treatment such as in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be indicated.
There are eight HSE-approved
providers distributed across the
country to ensure access nationally.
Eligibility for publicly funded treatment
For public patients who are clinically indicated for AHR and meet the national access for publicly funded treatment, a referral is made by their respective public fertility hub. Patients are referred to a private provider of their choosing once they meet the relevant eligibility criteria. There are eight HSE-approved providers distributed across the country to ensure access nationally.
As part of the arrangements in place with private AHR clinics, once a referral has been made
by a regional fertility hub team, an initial consultation should take place within six weeks.
Active treatment must start within six weeks of that consultation unless there are specific clinical reasons for this not to happen.
Fertility care referral increasing in Ireland
HSE fertility hubs are now receiving on average between 500 to 550 referrals per month across all six hubs. From Sept 2023 to August 2024, 6,288 couples were referred to an HSE fertility hub. As of the end of 2024, just under 1,700 of these couples have been referred for AHR treatment since referrals for AHR began in 2023. The overall pregnancy success rate reported to date for couples referred is 38%, with these rates varying as expected across age groups.
For more information, visit the HSE website on hse.ie
